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(.No Model.) A 12 Sheets- Sheet v 0. PI BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC SHEET METALTUBE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 563,255. Patented July '7, 1896.

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0. P. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC SHEET METAL TUBE MAKING MACHINE.

"No. 563,255. Patented July '7, 1896.

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No Model.) 12 sheets-sheet '5. 0. P. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC SHEET METAL TUBEMAKING MAGEINE.

Patented Julyg, 1895i.

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AUTMATI SHEET METAL TUBE MAKING MAGHINE- Patented July '7, 1896.

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AUTOMATIC SHEET METAL TUBE MAKING MACHINE.

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(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 9. O. P. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC SHEET METAL TUBEMAKING MACHINE.

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Patented July 7, 1896.

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v0. P. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC SHBETMBTAL TUBE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 563,255. Y Patented July?, 1896.

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'ms Ngnms PmRs co. Mmmm, wumum'ou, n cA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO P. BRIGGS, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC SHEET-METAL-TUBE-MAKING lVlACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,255, dated July 7,1896.

Application filed May l2, 1893. Serial No. 474,023. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORLANDO P. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 5 nois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic SheetMetal- Tube-Making Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany- Ioing drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automatic sheetmetal-tube-making machines; andit has for its object the construction of a machine which will takesheet metal of proper size and automatically form it into tubes by aseries of steps in which the metal is formed to the desired shape, andthen the same is folded and pressed close and smooth and the tubefinally passed oif, leaving the machine ready for the next piece ofsheet metal.

Before going into a detailed description of a machine of my invention Iwill indicate in a general way the essential features thereof, andbroadly its method of operation.

The sheet metal which is to be formed into a tube by the automaticaction of my machine is placed beneath a mandrel, and this mandrelconstitutes one of the important features of my invention. The metal isbent about the mandrel, the mandrel first having been increased incross-section, and while the metal is thus bent about the mandrel andheld rmlyin that position the tuckers, seamers, and smoothers operate tofold, press, and smooth the seam of the tube, after which the mandrel isreduced in cross-section to permit the ready removal of the finishedtube. The mandrel is of an approximately circular crosssection and iscomposed of two pieces which are dovetailed longitudinally. Each of thetwo lon gitudin al pieces of the mandrel tapers from a large end to asmall end, the large` end of one piece being placed opposite the smallend of the other piece. These pieces are free to move on one anotherlongitudinally and are controlled by a traveling beam, upon which aremounted dogs which operate upon correspondin g levers, which control thesize of the mandrel, in a manner to be hereinafter described more indetail. .I preferably gear this traveling beam, upon whichare mounted-transverse guides.

the dogs for controlling the size of the mandrel and other processes ofthe machine, to run at a slow rate of speed, but I give it all the powerwhich is necessary to accomplish the work. A pusher mounted upon thehead of the beam removes the finished tube from the mandrel just afterthe mandrel has been decreased in cross section. Back of this pusher aresmoothers, seamers, and tucker, which accomplish each a step in theformation of the complete seam. Apair of folders are mounted upon themain portion of the machine, and these, in conjunction with the barmounted centrally beneath the mandrel, act as a clutch and serve to holdthe sheet metal firmly upon the mandrel while the various tools areperforming their functions in the operation of completing the seam. Thethree blocks which so hold the sheet metal I shall call chuck-jaws, orjaws77 when spoken of severally. These jaws are mounted upon blocks,which in turn are mounted upon other blocks, to which are securelybolted serrated bars, which are worked by a lever, two of whose membersare serrated to correspond withsaid serrated bars. Vhen the sheet metalhas been placed under the mandrel by the operator, it rests upon theselateral jaws, which are then raised by means of the aforesaid serratedlever workin g in connection with the serrated bars, as will be setforth more in detail hereinafter. WVhen the jaws have been thus raised,they are moved toward each other at right angles to the mandrel andshape the as will be clearly shown hereinafter. The

chuck-jaws are allowed only a direct transverse motion, as they aremounted Vupon, fixed The two blocks, the slotsof which slide upon theaforesaid fixed blocks, are caused to slide back and forth upon eachbackward motion of the traveling beam. As the blocks slide back the twochuck-jaws are caused to open laterally, while the centrally-mountedlower jaw iscaused to fall by the partial revolution of a cam-barmounted beneath it, thus permitting the removal of the finished tube andthe placing in position of a new piece of metal when the two side jawsare again closed and the lower jaw raised, and the process of forming atube is then repeated.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which the construction of the various parts ofthe machine is displayed in detail.

Figure l is aside elevation of my machine as seen from the side on whichthe operator is situated. Fig. 2 is a reverse elevation. Fig. 3 is asection on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 with the chuck-jaws raised. Fig. 3 is anend view of the mandrel. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional viewof the front portion of the machine, showing the cam-bar in its uprightposition and the centrally-mounted jaw raised close to the mandrelthereby. Fig. 5 shows a detail of the same portion of the machine withthe cams of the cam-bar turned away from the centrally-mountedchuck-jaw, thus lowering the jaw away from the mandrel. Fig. 6 is a planview of the bed of the machine, a portion being broken away and thelower jaw being removed to reveal the cam-bar. In this viewis shown indotted lines the slots and bolts which control the position of the twolateral chuck-jaws with relation to the mandrel. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing the serrated leverwhich controls the vertical position of the jaws in complete elevation.Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section ot' the front portion of the machine,with the square sliding blocks in such a position within the diagonalslots as to cause the jaws to be open away from the mandrel. Fig. 9 is asimilar section, with the square sliding blocks in such a positionwithin the slots, however, as to cause the jaws to be closed about themandrel. Fig. l0 shows a portion of one of the blocks upon which aremounted the square blocks which control the position of the chuck-jaws.Fig. ll is a detail view of the rocking lever which controls theexcursions of the slotted blocks. Fig. l2 is a front view of theadjustable bearing in which is mounted the rocking lever. Fig. 13 is aside elevation of such bearing. Fig. l-i is a front view of themechanism contained within the body of the machine, the front portion ofthe casing being removed. Fig. l5 is a transverse section of the machinewith the traveling beam removed, the chuck-jaws separated from themandrel, and the sheet metal in place. Fig. 1G is a view of the blockmentioned in the description of Fig. l0, with the rocking lever removed.Fig. l is a view of the same block, with a portion broken away,revealing a square sliding block mounted thereon, said block being insuch a position within the slotted block upon which is mounted achuck-jaw as to cause-said jaw to decretion of the cross-section of themandrel.

Fig. 2l illustrates more in detail the mechanism shown in Figs. 19 and20. Fig. 22 is an elevation of a plate mounted upon the traveling beam.This plate rests upon the mandrel while the sheet metal is being claspedby the chuck and is removed when the formation of the seam is begun.Fig. 22 is a crosssectional detail view showing the cam for raising andlowering the above-lnentioned plate. Fig. 23 is a detail view of theheadpiece of the traveling beam, showing the pusher, seamers, smoothers,and tucker mounted thereon. Fig. 23 shows details of the seamers. Fig.2a is an elevation of the plate, which is provided with a longitudinalslot to accommodate the cam-bar. a section thereof on line a; a: of Fig.24:. Fig. 26 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 2T is a plan viewthereof. Fig. 28 is another plan view thereof with the mandrel andcam-bar removed. bar. Fig. 30 is a view showing the serrated lever inthe position it occupies prior to raising the chuck-jaws.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout theditferent views.

In Fig. l I have shown the traveling beam a in its extreme backwardposition. During the backward trip a certa-in adjustment of the partshas been accomplished, which I will now describe in detail.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l, 3, G, 7, and le, the iirstadjustment oi the parts to take place is the raising of the chuckjaws,which is accomplished by a flexible tripdog b, coming in contactwith a rocking lever b', which brings the serrated members c c of link cinto engagement with the serrated bars d d, which are securely rivetedto the blocks e e, as shown in Fig. 7. After the chuckjaws have thusbeen raised dog fimpinges against the rocking lever f', which causes thejaws to advance and clasp the sheet metal about the mandrel g.

As will be observed by reference to Figs. 6, 7, S, and 9, the blocks e chave iixedly mounted thereon square sliding blocks 7L 7L h, which engagewith corresponding diagonal slots h 71, 7L' in blocks h2 h2. The form ofsliding block which I preferably use is shown in Fig. 1S. It consists ofa bolt provided with a suitable screw-head t. This bolt is provided witha shoulder which rests lagainst the surface of the block e.. A cap 'i2is provided with a circular shoulder adapted to iit the head of the boltand which may be held thereby securely in place. This cap is square andis provided with an extension which rests Fig. 29 is a detail view ofthe cam- Fig. 25 is lOO IIO

against a corresponding shoulder in the slot h', cut in block h2, andserves to hold said block close upon the face of block e.

Blocks h2 h2 are provided with mortises which accommodate correspondingtenons upon jaws k la. These jaws move upon transverse guides it. (Shownin Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.) These transverse guides permit of the movementof the jaws in a direction at right angles only to the mandrel.

'The plates h2 are securely bolted to plates m mi, as shown most clearlyin Figs. 6, 8, 9, 1l, and 17. These plates m m, as shown in Fig. 14, arein engagement with, but free to move longitudinally upon, the blocks ee, the tenons e e, in connection with their corresponding mortises,acting as guides for said plates m m.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7, 9, 14:, and 17, upon the inner faces of theplates m m are vertical grooves m m', which receive the blocks m2 m2 ofthe rocking lever f. As before mentioned, the dog f impinges against therocking lever f this being the second result accomplished bythebackwardtrip of the traveling beam. This impingement of dog f on therocking lever f causes the blocks m2 m2 to push the plates m m back, theplates carrying with them the blocks h2 h2, which, as said, are securelybolted to said plates m m. Now, the diagonal blocks h h h beingimmovably mounted on the blocks e e, motion is imparted to the blocks h2h2 in a diagonal direction, but, inasmuch as the jaws 7c are free tomove only on' transverse guides, the travel of such jaws is limited to adirection at right angles to the mandrel, which motion is accomplishedby the jaws 7c 71', partaking of the diagonal motion of blocks h2 h2only that portion which gives them the transverse motion, and slidingupon blocks h2 h2 longitudinally. It is thus that the lateral jaws arebrought about the mandrel. After the jaws have been raised and broughtclose to the mandrel, the tucker, seamers, and smoothers are broughtinto play. These seamers, dro., are shown in detail in Fig. 23. Thetucker is also shown in Fig. 3. The tucker n is the first to be broughtinto opera tion upon the sheet metal. This tucker is made up of twoparts which prepare the sheet metal for the seainers and smoothers whichfollow. Between the two members of this tucker or folder is placed astrip fn', which prevents the sheet metal at that stage from beingoverlapped. There are four seamers 01.2, yn3, n4, and n.5 (shown indetail in Fig. 23%) and two smoothing-rollers 'JLG a7. As alreadymentioned, each of these seamers completes a step in the formation ofthe seam, after which follow the smoothing-rollers which tinish theseam.

It will be observed by the illustration Fig. 23, which shows the tube insuccessive stages of the process of forming the seam, that after 4thepartially-formed tube passes from the tucker ln the seamer n2, which hasthe slot ns at one side of the center, brings the edges closer togetherand gives them a bend to one side. This process is carried still furtherby seamer n3, which is provided with slot a9, and iinally seamer n4,with its slot am in the center. and much shallower and broader than theslots in the preceding seamers, com- `pletes the process of folding theseam of the tube, which then is pressed close and smoothed by rollers nand a7 and tool a5.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 22, and 22, the plate 0 is carried upon theplate o', which latter is so supported from the traveling beam that itmay be raised and lowered. To effect this movement, circular cams p p'are provided which t within circular openings or recesses provided inthe plate o. The screws 02 o2, that secure the plate o to the travelingbeam and serve as the journals for the rotation of the cams, passeccentrically through the cams, which are so situated that movementthereof from the position shown in Fig. 22 to that shown in Fig. 1causes the portions of the cams of greatest eccentricity to rise abovethe axis of rotation, thus raising the plate o. The cams are connectedbya link, so that they move together. Motion is imparted to the cams bymeans of thecentrallypivoted crescent-shaped cam q2, against the hornsof which the roller q' is adapted to impinge to rotate the cam. In Fig.22 roller q is shown in its travel to the right and has impin gedagainst the right-hand horn of cam q2 to lower the plate 0, while inFig. 1 the roller q has impinged against the left-hand horn of cam q2,thus raising the plate o. As this plate 0 is brought to bear upon themandrel upon the forward journey of the traveling beam, a furtherdescription of its functions will be reserved for the description of theresults taking place on such forward trip.

By the time that the tube is finished a dog Ir impinges against lever i"and causes the rocking lever f to be raised through the medium ofthe barr3, connecting the two, as seen by reference to Fig. 8. As showntherein, 1 have provided a suitable bearing r2 for t-he lever r. Thislever is provided with a recess which accommodates the end of the barr3. Upon the other end of this bar is provided a short rack whichengages with a segmental gear, which is integral with the rocking leverf and concentric with the journal of said rocking lever, as will bereadily seen by reference to Figs. S and 11. The elevation of thisrocking lever f causes the blocks m2 m2 to be raised within the verticalslots m m., thus carrying forward with them the plates 'm m and theblocks h h, securely bolted therewith. This advancement of the blocks 7Lh separates the jaws mounted upon them from the mandrel by a process thereverse of that by which they are closed upon the mandrel andleaves themready to be lowered. Dog r is next brought into play upon dog s', andthen the direction of travel of the beam a is reversed. VReferring nowto Figs. 19, 20, and 21, the

ITO

dog s' is keyed to shaft .52, which shaft is mounted in bearings s3 si,securely bolted to the bed of the machine. This dog s is also integralwith dog S4, the use whereof will be explained later. On the dog .5" ismounted the sliding block which engages a vertical slot s in Ithesliding plate S7. To this sliding` plate is adjustably bolted the lowerhalf SS o'f the mandrel g. As shown, the bolt is connected with thelarger end of the lower half.

In Fig. 20 I have shown the dog r just in the act of leaving dog s',which has been moved thereby from the position shown in Figs. 19 and 21to the position shown in Fig. 2O and in dotted lines in Fig. 21. Inacquiring this position the block S5 is moved backward, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 21, which block S5 carries with it the plate S7,together with the lower h alf of the mandrel connected therewith. Thesmall ends of the mandrel are thus caused to approach each other, thusreducing the cross-section of the mandrel and allowing the tube, whichby this time has been finished, to fit loosely thereon and to be easilyremoved.

The last thing accomplished by the backward trip of the traveling' baris the lowering of the central chuck-jaw, which is aecomplished in amanner which I will explain in connection with Figs. 5, G, 15, 24E, and29. The rocking cam-bar 2f has preferably four cams. This cam-bar playswithin a recess cut in the upper portion of the plate r, slots 152 t2 t2being also cut within said plate to permit the free play of the cams.These cams I make cylindrical in shape, the axes of which are eccentricto the bar proper. Upon the end of this cam-bar is fixed a smallgear-wheel if, which engages with another gear-wheel t". The gearwheelt* is actuated, through the medium of gear 155, by the rack f3. Thisrack t is allowed a limited excursion, enough to cause aquarter-revolution of the cam-bar. To an elongation of this rack-bar isadjustably fastened the post f7, which is impinged against by thetrip-dog h. This impingement, which occurs once on each backward trip ofthe traveling beam, results in lowering the cams and therewith the lowerchuck-jaw 15S. The gears t* and f5 are securely mounted in a forkedbearing t, whose stock lits within a groove cut within the plate f', andis firmly bottomed therein. The cam-bar rests upon and secures theiinmovability of said stock. Then the jaw '15S has thus been lowered,the belts are shifted and the traveliu g beam started on its forwardjourney.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the traveling beam advanced to its extremeforward position. I shall now recountthe results of this forward trip.

The removal of the finished tube is begun upon the forward start of thetravclingbeam, the mandrel, as before mentioned, having been previouslydecreased in cross-section,

' an adjustable pusher Z2 being mounted upon the head of the travelingbeam for this purpose. Trip-dogg' is next acted upon by dogj', whichresults in the lowering of the chuckjaws 7o in the way I will nowdescribe'.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the tripdogg is pivotally mounted uponthe machine and is adjustably connected with lever c by link c2. Theforward movement caused by the impingement of the dog j against dog j'causes the teeth of the serrated members c c to recede and mesh with thecorresponding teeth on blocks d d, thus allowing said blocks and thejaws k 7c, fastened thereto, to fall. In order to prevent a too suddenfall of the jaws, which would severely jar the machine, I provide an arm7"5, which supports the blocks e c directly and permits of their gradualdescent. This arm is fulcrumed at and pivoted atj to the upright bar jl,which works within and is guided by a slot in the projecting arm j. Tothe lever c is attached a rod c3. The other end of this rod is attachedto a block c4. This block c4 projects beyond the casing of the machineand has mounted upon it a block c5, which is made, preferably, of theshape shown. The block c4 bears upon a roller c. Then the jaws Za k areraised, the block c5 is in the position shown in Fig. 7. Vhen thetrip-dog j is shoved forward, the blocks c4 and c5 are shoved fartherout, and the roller c( rolls upon the slanting surfaces c7 cS of theblock c5, thus allowing the bar j* to rise gradually, and the jaws 7e7e, which, as said, are supported by the arm j, to fall gradually. Thepositions of the blocks cl and c5 after the jaws are lowered are shownin Figs. 2 and 30.

A springjT is provided to serve as a cushion for the lever c. Thisspring encompasses the rod c3 and bears against a washer e9 and anangle-plate cm. As will be seen, the arm je is sufficient to supportboth of the blocks e e, in asm uch as these two blocks are connected bywebs z Slots c c c' are cut into the plate t', which accommodate andallow for the vertical movement of the webs. I provide upon the plate ifangle-plates js js. Through these angle-plates are passed adjustablethreaded rodsjgj", as shown in Figs. 3, 14, 15, 24, 25, and 26. Theblocks e c rest upon these rods j jg when in their lowest position.

After the jaws k 7o have fallen and the sheet metal has been insertedunder the mandrel by the operator, the next readjustrnent of parts inorder is the enlargement of the mandrel. This enlargement isaccomplished, in fact, during the time it takes to lower the chuckjaws.Referring now to Figs. 19 and 21, the dog s is struck by dog s, carriedupon the beam a at the end opposite to that carrying dog r, thuschanging the position of said dog from that shown in Fig. 2O and indotted lines in Fig. 21 to that shown in Fig. 19 and in full lines inFig. 2l. This movement of the dog s* carries forward with it the blockS5, mounted upon the companion dog s and sliding in vertical slots s,thus advancing the sliding plate 87, which advancement causes anenlargement IOO . of the mandrel, for the larger end of the upper halfof the mandrel is caused to approach the larger end of the lower half.

After the enlargement of the mandrel has been effected the plate 0 isbrought to bear upon the mandrel in the manner I will now describe.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 22, the plate 0 is shown as having been soacted upon by the roller q' as to lower it upon the-mandrel. After theplate o has been lowered the traveling beam still has a portion of itsforward trip to finish. To prevent a useless wearing of the plate 0 upont-he mandrel, I mount it upon the plate o in such a manner that it maybe held stationary by the hook p3, which engages with the end of themandrel. The plate o is mounted upon plate o by means of a roller p4,which fits a slot or channel p5, cut within the plate o. This slot is ofsufficient length to allow the traveling beam to complete its trip. Theplate 0 passes back and fort-h'within a channel in plate 0. (Shown indotted lines in Fig. 22.) Rolle'r-bearin gs p p p are provided for theplate o within the plate o', A .detent p7 is provided which locks theeccentric cam-plates p and p in position. lVben the plate o is to belifted, this detent is raised by the shelf p8, ythe detent being mountedupon the end of a spring which rides upon the shelf p8 to raise thedetent, thus allowing ready action by the roller q' upon thecrescent-shaped cam-plate q2.

The last result accomplished by the traveling beam upon its forward tripis the elevation of the lower centrally-mounted chuckjaw is, which isaccomplished as follows: Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6, the adjustabledog fr upon the rear end of the traveling beam impinges against the postt and advances same together with the rack-bar t, connected therewith.This rack-bar causes a quarterturn of the cam-bar, thus raising at thesame time the cams thereon, and, consequently, the jaw t8, motion beingcommunicated, as said before, from the rack-bar t through gearwheels f5,il, and 253. It is to resist the upward pressure of this lower jaw thatI have provided the plate o, before mentioned.

I have now described what results are caused by the traveling beam. Howupon the backward trip of such beam the chuckjaws are raised and broughttogether about the mandrel, afterwhich the tools are brought to bearupon the sheet metal; how the plate o is removed from the mandrel; howthe lateral chuck-jaws are moved away from the mandrel preparatory tobeing lowered; h ow the mandrel is made smaller for the purpose ofremoving the finished tube; and, lastly, how the lower chuck-jaw hasbeen lowered away from the mandrel.

I have shown how upon the return trip of the traveling beam the ,tube isremoved; how the jaws are gradually lowered, after which the sheet metalmay be inserted under the chuck-jaws must be regulated.

mandrel.; how the mandrel is enlarged; how the plate o is brought tobear upon said mandrel an d held stationary thereon; and, lastly, howthe centrally-mounted lower jaw is elevated.

I will now describe some of the details of construction.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l, 2, and 3, it will be seenthatthe traveling beam d slides upon the stationary beam w, which is securedto the uprights www. The upper surface of this traveling beam istoothed, so as to mesh with a suitable driving-gear to2. In mostinstances the speed communicated to the driving-pulleys w3 w3 is toogreat, especially when the speed is supplied from a shaft which drivesmachines that have lighter work to perform than my machine. I decreasethe speed by suitable intermediate gearing 104, which gearing causes acorresponding increase of power to be applied to the traveling beam.

Tubes of different diameter may be made upon my machine. lVhen asufficient stock of one size is turned out, the mandrel maybe removedand a mandrel of a smaller or larger diameter -put in its stead, whilethe jaws 7.3 k can be removed and others corresponding to the changedmandrel may be put in place of them. The lower jaw t3 has also to beremoved and one of the proper size put in its place.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that I provide two offsets in theteeth of blocks d d. By vertically adjusting the trip-dog b, theexcursion 'of the lever c may be so controlled as to allow the teeththereof tobear upon either of these offsets. The offsets n; are to beused when the largest of the three sizes of tubes, which in practice Ihave found it necessary to provide for, is to be made. The next osets ware to be used when the me-V dium size tube is to be made, while thatengagement (shown in Fig. 7) of the lever c with the teeth of blocks (Zd is used when the tube of the smallest diameter is to be made.

When the size of the mandrel and chuckjaws is changed, the initialposition of the The bearin g w12 of the rocking lever f is adapted toslide in slot-s Awl wl, provided in the blocks e e, as shown clearly inFigs. 10, 14, 1G, and 17.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9, the bearing w12 is held inposition by a bolt fil/'8,

.one end of which is secured in position, the

other end passing loosely through said bearing and serving to hold thesame in position through vthe agency of jam-nuts w11 w11, screwed oneagainst each face of .the bearing. Two jam-nuts w11 w11 hold thisbearing in its proper position. When the initial position of the jaws kla is to be changed, the bearing w12 is adjusted by means of bolt w8 andjam-nuts nf wu. As is readily seen by reference to .the drawings, theadjustment of this bearing ,adjusts also the jaws k 7c through the -me-IIO s" eeaes dium of the plates lla m, bolted therewith, and the rockinglever f', which is in engagement with said plates m on.

When the chuck-jaws and mandrel are readjusted, it is' obvious that theseamers, smoothers, tucker, and pusher must be vertically adjusted,while the seamers have to be changed for ones which accommodatethemselves to the new mandrel. The vertical adjustment of the aforesaidseamers, Sac., is regulated by bolts x a2, working within the slots a5c', while the pusher is adjusted by bolt and nuts c?. Vhen theadjustment of the seamers, the., has been made, such adjustment is madesecure by set-nuts x3 c3 Q03.

Upon replacing the lower jaw a vertical adjustment of the plate if is ofnecessary consequence. This plate t is provided with two projections f1]ly, through which pass freely bolts y' y', which are screwed into thelugs y2 y2. Nuts fil/3 g3 are screwed upon this bolt and support theplate t and adjust the position thereof. J am-nuts 'g4/g4 are provided,which secure the adjustment of said plate The time of lowering the camsofthe cambar t is controlled by adjusting the longitudinal position ofthe post t7, while the elevation thereof is controlled by adjusting thebolt y'.

My invention is susceptible of many modiiications in matters of detail,and I do not therefore desire to limit myself to the preciseconstructions shown.

lIaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination with anexpansible mandrel, about which the sheet metal is formed, of a numberof radially-movable jaws adapted to form the sheet metal about saidmandrel and hold the same thereon, substantially as dcscribed.

2. In a sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination with anexpansible mandrel about which the sheet metal is formed, of jawsadapted to form the metal about the mandrel and hold the same firmlythereon, and a longitudinally-traveling beam carrying tools adapted toform the seam in thetube, substantially as described.

3. In a sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination with a mandrelabout which said sheet metal is formed, of plates adapted to receivesaid sheet metal beneath said mandrel, means for raising said plates,thus bending the sheet metal about said mandrel, said plates beingprovided with jaws adapted to close upon said sheet metal and hold itfirmly in position,and mechanism for forming, pressing, and smoothingthe seam in said tube, substantially as described.

et. In a sheet-1n etal-tube-making machine, the combination with amandrel about which said sheet metal is formed, of means for folding themetal about said mandrel and form-v ing the seam in the tube, a plate oadapted to rest upon the mandrel to resist upward pressure upon saidmandrel, said plate being adapted to be removed from said mandrel beforethe tube is formed, substantially as described.

5. In combination, amandrel, jaws adapted to close about the bottom andtwo sides thereof, a traveling beam carrying tools and adapted to foldand press a seam in sheet metal folded about said mandrel, a platecarried by said traveling beam and adapted to rest upon the top of saidmandrel while the metal is being folded thereon, and to be removedbefore the seam is formed, substantially as described.

G. The combination in a sheet-metal-tubcmaking machine, with a mandrelabout which the metal is adapted to be folded, of means for folding saidmetal about said mandrel, a traveling beam adapted to carry tools forfolding and pressing a sea-m in the sheet metal, a plate 0 carried bythe traveling beam and adapted to rest upon the said mandrel when themetal is being folded, a pin p4 adapted to slide in a slot p5 and tohold said plate in a channel in a plate o which is mounted upon saidtraveling beam and adapted to be lowered and raised; whereby said plateo is brought upon said mandrel and subsequently raised therefrom,substantially as described.

7. In an automatic sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination of amandrel with three jaws adapted to shape the sheet metal about saidmandrel, two of said jaws mounted laterally about, and the thirdcentrally beneath, said mandrel, means for bringing said jaws about themandrel when 'the sheet metal is in place, and means for removing saidjaws away from said mandrel and also lowering the same in order that theinished tube may be removed and the machine refed, a traveling beammounted centrally above said mandrel, said traveling beam carrying aplate which rests upon the mandrel during the time that the metal isbeing shaped about the same, whereby by means of said plate the upwardpressure of the aforesaid lower jaw is resisted, said traveling beamcarrying tools for making and smoothing the seam in the tube, saidtraveling beam also having mounted thereon a pusher to remove theiinished tube, substantially as specified.

8. In an automatic sheet-metal-tube-making machine, a mandrel consistingof two tapering parts dovetailed together, said dovetailed parts adaptedto be slid upon each other so as to increase or diminish thecrosssection thereof, in combination with jaws mounted about saidmandrel and adapted to be automatically moved close about or away fromthe mandrel, and a traveling. beam mounted above said mandrel providedwith tools for making and smoothing the seam of the tube, said travelingbeam also provided with dogs which so act upon dogs which cause one ofthe tapering parts of said mandrel to move longitudinally, as to causethe cross- IOO IIO

563,255- A *av section of the mandrel to be of a large crosssection,shortly previous to and during the formation of the tube and to bedecreased in cross-section whenvthe finished tube is to be removed, aplate mounted upon said traveling beam adapted to rest upon the mandrelwhen the sheet metal is being shaped about the same to withstand anyupward pressure upon said mandrel, substantially as specied.

9. In an automatic sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination of amandrel with jaws 7s 7b' and t8 mounted about said mandrel, the jaws 7i;mounted upon blocks h2 72,2, which in turn are mounted upon blocks e e,serrated plates CZ d fastened to said blocks e by means of which and alink c provided with serrated members o c-said lever c having pivotallyconnected thereto an arm h which is adapted to be engaged with by theflexible trip-dog b once upon each backward trip of the traveling beam,a dog u also pivotally connected to said link c, adapted to be engagedwith by dog Au' upon the same backward trip of the traveling beanr-saidblocks e e, together with the jaws kk mounted thereon, are caused tofall away from the mandrel on each backward excursion of said serratedplates and caused to rise upon each forward excursion of said plates,means whereby the jaws may be made to recede from or advance about saidmandrel, means whereby the centrally-mounted lower jaw t8 may be raisedor lowered, a traveling beam mounted -above said mandrel provided withtools adapted to make and smooth the seam of the tube, and dogs mountedupon said traveling beam adapted to actuate t-he aforesaid serratedplates, said traveling Y beam valso provided with a plate adapted torest upon the mandrel just previous to and during the shaping of thesheet metal about the mandrel, substantially as described.

lO. In an automatic sheet-metaletubemaking machine, the combination of amandrel with jaws Zt' k and 15S adapted to be brought about and removedand lowered from said mandrel, said jaws Zt' k mounted upon the blocksh2 in such a manner as to have free longitudinal movement with relationto said blocks, said blocks 7b2 mounted upon blocks e and allowed alimited diagonal motion thereon by means of the square sliding blocks hmounted upon said'blocks e, and diagonal slots in the blocks h2 whichengage with said square sliding blocks 7l, said blocks h2 h2 adapted tobe actuated by a rocking lever f through the medium of vertical slidingblocks m2 m2 and blocks m m provided with vertical slots which engagewith said blocks m2 m2, said blocks m m in enga-gement with said blocksh2 h2, the lower jaw ts adapted to be raised or lowered by the cam-bartjournaled within a recess in the central plate t', a traveling .beammounted centrally above said mandrel provided with tools to make andsmooth the seam of the tube, a plate mounted upon said traveling beam towithstand any upward Apressure upon the mandrel during the time that themetal is being shaped about the same, the dog f mounted upon thetraveling beam adapted to close jaws la c about the mandrel through themedium of the rocking lever f and parts actuated thereby, dog r alsomounted upon the traveling beam adapted to open the jaws k k away fromthe mandrel through the medium of dog r', rackbar r3 and rocking lever fand parts actuated thereby, adjustable dogs r and b adapted through themedium of post t7, rack t6, pinion t5 and gears t4, t3, to raise andlower respectively the cams upon cam-bar t, and together therewith jaws, substantially as specified.

1l. In an automatic sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination ofa mandrel with jaws adapted to advance and shape the sheet metal aboutsaid mandrel, two of said jaws la k mounted laterally about said mandrelupon blocks h2 h2, said blocks h2 h2 mounted upon blocks e e, an arm uso actuated by link c through the medium of rod c3, blocks c* and c5,roller c and. bar a4 pivoted to arm a at a3 as to rise when said blockse that the sheet metal is being shapedabout the same, dogs mounted uponthe traveling beam adapted to actuate lever a6 through the medium of dogu, link c2, rod 3, blocks 04,05, rollers c and bar n4, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

l2. In an automatic sheet-metaltubemak ing machine, a mandrel composedof two parts IIO dovetailed together, one of said parts held stationary,the other part .ss linked to sliding plate S7, a vertical slot s in saidplate S7 in engagement with block mounted upon dog s", said dog s keyedupon shaft s2, as is also dog .s4-in combination with jaws adapted tofold the sheet metal about, said mandrel, means for bringing said jawsabout the mandrel and removing and lowering the same away from themandrel, a traveling beam having mounted thereon a dog s adapted toimpinge upon dog s4 upon each forward trip of the traveling beam, which,through the medium of parts connecting the dog s4 with part ss of themandrel, results in enlarging the mandreha dog fr' mounted upon thetraveling beam adapted to impinge upon dog s upon each backward trip vofthe traveling beam, which, through the medium of parts connecting dog s'with part 3S of the mandrel, results in decreasing the crosssectionofthey mandrel, av plate o mounted upon said trav, eling beamadapted torest yupon the mandrel just previous to and during the time that themetal is being shaped about the same, substantially as and for thepurpose specied.

13. In an automatic sheet-metaltubemak Ving machine, the combination ofa mandrel with jaws adapted to shape sheet metal about same, means forbringing the jaws about and removing and lowering the same from themandrel, a beam mounted and adapted to travel above said mandrel, saidbeam having cam-plates p p mounted thereon, a plate 0l supported uponsaid camplates, a link q connecting said cam-plates, a crescent-shapedcam q2 adapted to be engaged with by a roller q once upon each forwardtrip to lower, and. once upon each backward trip to raise the plate oand therewith a plate o mounted upon plate o', said plate o providedwith a catch p3 adapted to engage with one end of the mandrel when theplate is lowered, means whereby the plate o' is held vstationary shortlyprevious to and during the time that the sheet metal is being shapedabout the mandrel, detent p7 adapted Vto engage one of said cam-plates,and shelf p8 for raising said detent, said traveling beam provided withtools which make and smooth `the seam of the tube, a pusher mounted uponsaid beam to remove the finished tube,sfubstantially as and for thepurpose specified.

la. In an automatic sheet-metal-tubeemaking machine, the combination ofa mandrel with jaws adapted to shape sheet metal about the same, meansfor advancing the jaws about and removing and lowering them from themandrel, a traveling beam mounted above said mandrel, a plate mountedupon said beam adapted to rest upon the Vmandrel shortly previous to andduring the time that the sheet metal is being shaped -about the same,folder n, metal strip n', seamers n2 n3 n4 and smoothers H5 n nl mountedupon the front end of the traveling beam, adjustable pusher d2 alsomounted upon the front end thereof to remove the finished tube,substantially as and for the purpose specied.

15. In a sheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination with anexpansible mandrel about which the sheet metal is formed, of aradially-movable jaw adapted to press the middle portion of thesheet-metal blank against the mandrel, and a pair of plates providedwith jaws and situated upon either side of said radially-movable jaw,said plates being capable of two motions, the one parallel to the motionof said radially-movable jaw, thereby bending t-he blank, and the othertoward the mandrel, thereby pressing the blank against the mandrel andholding the same thereon, substantially as described. l

16. In a sheet-metal-tube-making machine,

the combination with a longitudinally-movable bar provided withserrations upon its upper surface, of aplate resting upon said bar andprovided with serrations upon its lower surface meshing with theserrations on said Vbar,and a jaw carried upon said plate adapted toengage the blank and bend the same about' the mand rel in its ascent,substantially as described.

17. In a sheet-metal-tube-makin g machine, the combination with a seriesof stationary studs, of a plate carrying a jaw and provided. withoblique channels in which said studs are adapted to travel, and amandrel toward which said jaw is moved by the oblique inotion thusimparted to said plate, substantially as described. j

1S. In a sheet-metal-.tube-making machine, the combination with a seriesof stationary studs,'of a plate provided with oblique channels in whichsaid studs are adapted to travel, and a transversely-moving jaw-platedovetailed longitudinally to said first-mentioned plate, andtransversely to stationary guides; whereby the oblique motion of saidfirst-mentioned plate imparts a transverse motion only to saidtransversely-moving plate, subst-anH tially as described.

19. In a sheet-metalftube-making machine, the combination with avertically-movable jaw, of a rotatable shaft occupying a positionparallel to the length of said jaw, and'provided with cams adapted toengage said jaw at points along its length; whereby the rotation of saidshaft effects the raising and loweri'ng of said jaw, substantially asdescribed.

Y 20. In asheet-metal-tube-making machine, the combination with anexpansible mandrel comprising the longitudinally-movable taperingsections, of a traveling part adapted to engage and remove the completedtube from said mandrel, and means for locking said sections in positionwhen the mandrel is contracted, thereby preventing expansion of themandrel due to the friction caused by the removal of the completed tube,substantially as described.

2 1. In a sheet-metal-tube-makin g machine, the combination with thecxpansible mandrel g, one section thereof being movable, of the plate S7provided with a vertical slot, the cam S5 adapted to engage said slot,said cam being adapted to be moved into position to lock the movablesection of mandrel g, against movement from a thrust thereon, while themandrel is contracted, substantially as described.

22. The method of forming sheet-metal tubes, which consists in bendingthe sheetmetal blank about an expansible mandrel, bending the edges ofthe blank to form a seam, and finally contracting the mandrel to permitthe removal of the completed tube, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1893.

ORLANDO P. BRIGGS. lVitnesses:

GEORGE W. MCMAHON, GEORGE L. CRAGG.

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